Metro Manila, Philippines – Fisher group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) safely and successfully returned to the shores of Masinloc, Zambales on Friday, May 31 after holding a collective fishing expedition in the contested West Philippine Sea, the group said.
The activity coincided with National Fisherfolk Day.
“Itinuturing ng mga mangingisda at PAMALAKAYA na tagumpay ang inilunsad na sama-samang pangingisda,” the group told NewsWatch Plus.
[Translation: The fishers and PAMALAKAYA consider the collective fishing a success.]
Pamalakaya said it did not face intervention from the Chinese Coast Guard as the fishermen only ventured 10 nautical miles from Masinloc. The initial plan was to go 20 to 30 nautical miles from land but strong winds and huge waves prevented them from doing so.
About 20 small fishing boats set sail on the night of Thursday, May 30 after Beijing declared a four-month fishing ban in the South China Sea, an area which encroaches in the West Philippine Sea.
The fishermen also pushed for what they called “total demilitarization” of the West Philippine Sea.
“Tiyak na nakaapekto nang malubha sa yamang-dagat ang isinagawang pambobomba ng US (United States) sa karagatan ng Zambales. Ramdam ito ng mga mangingisda sa ilang bayan ng lalawigan na simula nang matapos ang Balikatan noong Mayo, bumaba ang nahuhuling isda at kita sa bawat pagpalaot,” said Jojo Ecijan, president of Masinloc-based Panatag Fisherfolk Association.
[Translation: US bombing of the seas of Zambales severely affects the marine resources in the area. The fishers of some towns in the province have observed a decline in the number of catches and profit since the end of the Balikatan last May.]
Balikatan is the regular military exercise between the Philippines and US.
